Detachable handle for flexible strips



Aug. 13, 1957 M. MANDZICK, JR

DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR FLEXIBLE STRIPS Filed July 11, 1956 IN VENTOR RNEY B lf 1 0 aeZ Zlfandz ic/Q H ATTO .of a single handle;

DETACHABLE HANDLE FOR FLEXIBLE STRIPS Michael Mandzick, Jru, Glenolden, Pa. Application July 11, 1956, Serial No. 597,232 7 Claims. (Cl. 51-187) This invention relates to a novel handle having novel means for detachably anchoring the handle to a part of a flexible strip so that the strip will be held tightly gripped by the handle when a force is applied tending to pull the handle away from the strip or vice versa.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a handle especially adapted for use in conunction with a strip of sandpaper or emery cloth, but which is equally well adapted for numerous other uses in conjunction with flexible strips where such strips must be held against a pulling force or Where a pulling force must be applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle having adjustable retaining means for retaining a flexible strip anchored immovably to the handle, when no force is applied tending to separate the handle and strip.

nited States Patent A further object of the invention is to provide a handle of the aforedescribed character of extremely simple construction Which may be very economically manufactured and sold and which will be extremely efiicien't and durable in connection with its intended uses.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will. hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description ofthe drawing, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is 'a side elevational view illustrating the use .of a pair of the detachable handles;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the use Figure 3 is an enlarged planview of the handle; Figure 4 is a cross sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated bythe line 4-4 of :ing toward the lower end thereof as seen in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through the head portion of the handle as seen in Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a slightly modified form of the handle.

Referring more specifically :to the drawing, the handle in its entirety and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 is designated generally 10 and comprises an elongated substantially straight bar, designated generally 11, and a generally bail-shaped part 12 forming the grip portion of the handle 10. The ends of the bail shapedportion 12 are formed integral with or suitably secured to end Tportions ofone side of the bar 11, so that the bail -po'rtion 12 istlisp'osedin a plane perpendicular to the plane of the bai' 11,{QS?S611 in Figure 4.

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posed and which are coextensive with said slot, are of circular cross section, as seen in Figures 4 and 6.

The grip portion 12 includes an intermediate part 18 which is adapted to be grasped by the hand and which preferably includes an outwardly offset intermediate por'-' tion 19, as best seen in Figure 3: The grip portion 12 is preferably of oval shape in cross section, as seen in Figure 4, with the longer axis thereof disposed in a plane parallel to the axis of the bar 11. The laterally spaced bar por-j tions 17 are preferably provided with longitudinally spaced graduations 20, as seen in Figure 5. 7

The handle 10 is adapted to be detachably anchored to a part of a flexible strip for manipulating, holding or supporting the strip. In Figure 1, two of the handles 10 are illustrated, one attached to each end of a flexible strip 21 which may constitute a strip of sandpaper, emery cloth, a polishing cloth or the like. Each end of the strip 21 is anchored to a handle 10 by said end portion of the strip 21 being passed inwardly of the handle 10 through the slot 14 and then being wrapped partially around the outer side of one of the bar portions 17. The portion of the strip 21 extending from the outer side of the slot 14 is then wrapped around the outer side of the other bar portion 17 and around the inner side of the bar 'or head 11 and so as to extend from the outer side of the bar portion 17 which is engaged by the terminal portion 22 of the strip. The terminal portion 22 is thus effectively gripped between the portion of the strip 21 which extends from the bar 11 and the bar portion 17 around which the strip end 22 is partially wrapped, to prevent slippage of the strip 21 relative to the bar or head 11. The graduations 20 are utilized for positioning the strip 21 with its longitudirial edges equally spaced from the ends of the slot 14 for properly centering the strip relative to the handle 10. The "other end of the strip 21 is detachably anchored in 'the same manner to the second handle 10, as seen in Figure 1. It will be apparent that the user may then grasp the portions 18 of the handgrips 12 of thetwo handles 10 for inanipulatingthe strip 21 in a reciprocating motion longitudinally of the strip for executing a sanding or polishing operation.

One of the "handles 10 may be utilized alone with the strip 21 by folding the strip back upon itself intermediate of its ends and by then anchoring the two ends of the strip '21 tothe bar or head 11, as seen in Figure 2, in the same manner as previously described for anchoring a single endo'f the strip to said bar. The loop 23 thus formed by the remainder of the strip 21 may then be utilized-to engage around a circular or cylindrical element 24 which can be sanded or polished by the intermediate portion of the loop 23, when said element 24 is rotated about its axis and while the handle 101s held so that the intermediate portion of the loop 23 will engage taut around a part of the circumference of the element 24. Obviously, the strip 21 can be looped around the element 24 before the ends thereof are anchored to the bar or head 11. The offset intermediateportion 19 is provided primarily for use-of the handle as seen in Figure 2 and so that. said portion 19 can be engaged with astationary anchoring element, such as ahook, not shown, for holding the handle -10and-the strip 21 which is anchored thereto,

while grinding or polishing the revolving-element 24.

, The handle. 10 may also be utilized as illustratedin Figure 2 by being detachablyanchored to the ends of the strip 21 when the loop 23 of the strip 21 forms a sling in which elements are to be carried. For example, the element 24 could constitute a drum and the loop or sling 23 can engage around and be used to support the drum 24 or could be employed for suporting a bundle of loose elements such as sticks around which the loop or sling 23 engages. The grip portion 12 is accordingly preferably made bail-shaped as seen in Figure 3 in order to afford maximum utility for the handle 10. However, it will be apparent that the grip portion 12 may be made in various other shaps and does not necessarily have to be bailshaped, and may be connected to only one end of the barof head 11'.

Similarly, the cross sectional shape of the bar or head 11 may be varied. For example, as illustrated in' Figure 7, a head may be provided having a slot 26 which is flared toward outer and inner sides of said head 25 and including spaced bar portions 27 in lieu of the bar portions 17. The bar portions 27 are provided with substantially semicircular outer halves 28 and tapered and rounded inner halves 29, which tapered and rounded halves 29 will more eifectively grip the end portion or portions of a strip wrapped thereabout. Likewise, the bar portions may be of various other cross sectional shapes best adapted to effectively grip and retain a portion of a strip in engagement therewith.

It will also be apparent that a strip end or ends may be wrapped in various other ways around the bar portions 17 or 27 to effect a secure anchorage of the strip to the handle when a force is applied tending to separate the handle and strip.

The handle 10 may also be provided with a retainer member, designated generally 30, comprising an elongated bar 31 which extends between the straight ends 16 of the grip 12 and which has turned back extensions forming hook shaped portions 32 which engage partially around said straight ends 16 and which are disposed in frictional gripping engagement therewith. The elements 32 may be slightly restricted in width relative to the bar 31. The upper edge of the bar 31 is provided with an outturned flange 33, as best illustrated in Figure 4, which projects in a direction away from the plane of the bail-like grip 21. The hook-like elements 32 while having a frictional or gripping engagement with the ends 16 of the grip 12 may be forcibly slid relative thereto so that the strip retainer may be detached from the upper end of the grip 12 and may be applied so that the bar 31 and flange 33 thereof will be located on either side of the plane of the grip 12.

The strip retainer 30 is normally displaced away from the bar 11, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, so that an end or ends of the flexible strip 21 may be anchored to the bar portions 17, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 6, and as previously described. So long as the tension is maintained on the handle 10 and the strip 21, tending toseparate said parts, the strip retainer 30 need not be utilized. However, by forcibly sliding the strip retainer 30 toward the bar 11 and so that an inner or bottom edge of the bar 31 will bear against the wrapped portion of the strip 21 to clamp it against one of the bar portions 17, said strip end or ends may be anchored to the bar portions 17 so as to remain securely attached thereto when no force is applied tending to separate the handle 10 and strip 21.

The retainer bar 31 is preferably disposed on the side of the handle grip 12 so that it will bear upon the two ply wrapped strip end and which includes the inner ply formed by the strip terminal 22, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The flange 33 is utilized as a fingerhold for grasping the retainer 30 for moving it away from the bar 11 and also to receive pressure exerted by the thumb or fingers for displacing the retainer 30 toward the bar 11.

The handle 10 may obviously be made in various sizes and various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter de fined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An implement of the character described comprising a handle including an elongated bar constituting an extremity of the handle and having elongated transversely spaced bar portions, a grip member having a portion secured to said bar beyond an end of said bar portions, said grip member including a part spaced from the bar portions and adapted to be grasped for supporting the handle, said spaced bar portions defining a slot disposed therebetween, and a flexible strip wrapped around and detachably anchored to said bar portions and including a portion extending through said slot, a part of said flexible strip being disposed around one of said bar portions and beneath another part of the flexible strip which ex tends from said bar in a direction away from said part of the grip member, said strip being frictionally clamped and anchored to the bar by a pull exerted on said last men tioned part in a direction away from the grip member part.

2. An implement of the character described comprising a handle including an elongated bar constituting an extremity of the handle and having a slot extending longitudinally of said bar and terminating adjacent the ends thereof to form transversely spaced bar portions, a bailshape grip member having end portions secured to the bar beyond the ends of said slot and including an intermediate portion spaced from said bar portions and adapted to be grasped for supporting the handle, and a flexible strip having an end portion wound around said bar portions and extending through the slot and including a part engaging partially around one of the bar portions and which is disposed beneath another part of the strip whereby when a pull is exerted on said last mentioned part of the strip, in a direction away from the grip member, said strip end is frictionally anchored to the bar.

3. A handle as in claim 2, said bar being oval-shaped in cross section, said grip member being secured to and projecting from one side of the bar.

4. A handle as in claim 3, said slot being flared toward opposite sides of the bar and being of a width less than the diameters of the bar portions, and said bar portions being of substantially circular cross section.

5. A handle as in claim 2, said bar portions being of noncircular cross section for effectively gripping a part of the strip wrapped therearound.

6., A handle as in claim 2, and a retaining member slidably supported by and having frictional engagement with said grip member, said retainer member being slidably movable toward and away from the bar for cooperation with one of said bar portions for clamping a portion of the strip therebetween.

7. A handle as in claim 2, and a retaining member spanning said grip member and including hook shaped end portions slidably mounted on and having frictional engagement with the end portions of said grip member, said retainer member being slidably movable toward and away from said bar and being displaceable toward the bar for clamping a portion of the strip between a portion of said retainer member and one of said bar portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harrington Sept. 26, 1950 

